News | March 19, 2014

WateReuse California Honors Excellence In Water Recycling

WateReuse California honored leaders in water recycling during an awards luncheon in Newport Beach on March 17. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the 2014 WateReuse California Annual Conference, which is the premier educational event dedicated to advancing water recycling and desalination projects in California. The Annual WateReuse California Awards provide recognition to projects, programs, customers, staff, and advocates that have made significant contributions to advancing water recycling in California.

The award recipients are listed below.

Recycled Water Agency of the Year – Small

Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District
The Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District has consistently shown leadership in recycled water usage, community involvement, green technology and planning. The District was an early adopter of recycled water and began to enhance and create wetlands in 1990. Today, approximately 1,200 acre-feet of recycled water is distributed annually to twelve agricultural customers for irrigation. In 2013, a pipeline was completed to supply recycled water to 640 acres of former salt ponds, including agricultural users along the route. This project will provide up to 1,700 acre-feet per year of recycled water and is part of one of the largest wetlands restoration projects on the west coast.

Recycled Water Agency of the Year – Medium

City of Santa Clara
For nearly fifteen years, Santa Clara has run one of the most progressive recycled water programs in Northern California. It includes 34 miles of pipeline, 233 active connections, and 2.8 MGD of demand served. Santa Clara’s creative program goes well beyond landscape irrigation and provides recycled water for a variety of uses, including 11 dual plumbed sites, nine cooling towers, and eight industrial sites. With as many as 75,000 fans expected to move through the San Francisco 49ers new, dual-plumbed stadium on any given weekend, the City’s program will expand awareness of the importance of recycled water to a sustainable Bay Area supply.

Recycled Water Agency of the Year – Large

Santa Clara Valley Water District
The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages water resources in Santa Clara County, home of Silicon Valley and is the water management leader serving two million people covering fifteen cities and towns. The District continued its role as a water reuse leader in the region with the recent construction of an almost 10,000 acre-feet recycled water advanced purification center. In addition, Santa Clara County achieved 20,000 acre-feet of nonpotable recycled water use in 2013. The District, in collaboration with the recycled water producers, has plans to continue this recycled water expansion use to approximately 50,000 acre-feet by 2035. The District is also moving towards demonstration testing for future potable reuse projects.

Recycled Water Community Outreach and Public Education Program of the Year

Pure Water San Diego
The “yuck factor” of potable reuse has hindered implementation of water purification in San Diego. Through comprehensive outreach efforts, San Diegans have learned about the science and benefits of water purification. Following these outreach efforts, there has been a shift in perception on potable reuse. Media and polls reveal that the public is coming to accept the science of water purification. In April 2013, the City Council unanimously adopted the City’s demonstration project findings, which determined indirect potable reuse via reservoir augmentation is feasible. Plans for a full-scale project are now being developed.

Recycled Water Customers of the Year

Gibson Ranch
The Gibson Ranch is a 5.2-acre facility, which is home to a local equestrian club, competitive rodeos, and charity events. The ranch actively pursued the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to use recycled water on its property. After learning that LADWP does not have a recycled water mainline nearby, the ranch purchased and retrofitted a water truck to use at a recycled water fill station, located approximately 5 miles from their ranch. Due to its dedication to recycled water, in spring 2013, Gibson Ranch became the first LADWP customer to utilize recycled water for permanent dust control.

Napa-Sonoma Salt Marsh Restoration Project
The Napa Sonoma Salt Marsh Restoration Project provides freshwater to facilitate restoration of several of the former salt ponds at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Napa-Sonoma Marsh Wildlife Area. This area is of great importance to migratory shorebirds and waterfowl as well as special status mammals, endangered fish, and other aquatic animals. A multitude of partners, including the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District and the North Bay Water Reuse Program, collaborated to complete a recycled water pipeline that will provide up to 1,700 acre-feet annually of recycled water for salinity reduction and tidal restoration of 640 acres of former salt ponds. Recycled water also will be available for agricultural irrigation by users along the pipeline route.

Tuftex Carpet Mill
Tuftex Carpet Mill in Santa Fe Springs, CA began receiving recycled water from the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (LACSD) and Central Basin Municipal Water District (CBMWD) in 1993. In the ensuing two decades, this facility has used almost 2.3 billion gallons (7,055 AF) of recycled water in its carpet production. However, in fall 2012, their Santa Fe Springs mill was using less than 30% recycled water in their processes. Tuftex collaborated with LACSD and CBMWD to identify additional processes that could be converted to recycled water. Today, the facility uses nearly 80% recycled water in its industrial processes.

Recycled Water Staff Person of the Year

Dan Rydberg, City of Oxnard
Dan Rydberg became the City of Oxnard’s Capital Programs Manager in January 2006. In this role, he manages the engineering, design, inspection, and construction management of capital projects with a total cost of nearly $1B. As a member of the implementation team for the $130M Groundwater Recovery Enhancement and Treatment (GREAT) Program, Rydberg emerged as a leader. The GREAT program includes a $53M Advanced Water Purification Facility and will provide a reliable and sustainable water supply and improved water quality. Rydberg has strived to keep the program moving forward and systematically addressed roadblocks along the way.

Recycled Water Advocate of the Year

Earle Hartling, Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
For more than three decades, Earle Hartling has been a tireless supporter of recycled water at the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (LACSD). In the Los Angeles area, Hartling’s reputation as an expert in the field has playfully earned him the moniker of “Recycled Water Guru.” During his tenure at LACSD, he helped double the volume of recycled water used and the number of reuse sites served to 103,840 AFY and 725 sites. Most recently, Hartling was instrumental in getting the use of tertiary treated recycled water approved for use in hose bibbs at cemeteries by contributing the language used in recent California legislation.